Change to improve access to mental health support

HEALTH leaders are strengthening the provision of local mental health services.

In a bid to make it easier for patients to access mental health support, Vita Health Group has taken over the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service.

The IAPT service, which was previously known in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) as Let’s Talk Wellbeing, provides vital access to talking therapy for anyone 16 and over who is suffering from anxiety, depression, low moods and lack of motivation amongst other mental health issues.

Vita Health Group is a provider of mental health services and will work in partnership with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland clinical commissioning groups to deliver a range of free psychological therapies in partnership with other key mental health services providers across the local area.

Dr Avinashi Prasad, local GP and mental health lead in Leicester, said: “For many people, the last year has brought a lot of uncertainty, isolation, stress and worry; not only about Covid-19 but also financial insecurity, employment worries and exacerbated many other day to day issues as well.

“We continue to urge all our patients and the wider community to seek help when they need it especially if they are feeling low, anxious or depressed as help is available to anyone that needs support – you don’t need to struggle on your own.

“We are delighted to be improving the access and quality of mental health support in collaboration with Vita Health Group in LLR and look forward to seeing the benefits the service will bring for thousands of patients locally. Please remember that even during the ongoing Covid restrictions help is still available via online video sessions so don’t delay, self-refer today.”

Alice Beckwith, NHS transformation director at Vita Health Group, said: “Our professional standards, services and expertise will ensure that the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland get the right care, in the right place at the right time.”

Vita Health Group will run the VitaMinds talking therapy IAPT service with three local partners: Equality Action, The Bridge and the LGBT Centre. Access is available for anybody over the age of 16 who is registered with a GP practice in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.

IAPT is a self-referral service. Call 0333 0153 494 or go to: